Changes in the chewing path of patients in skeletal class III with and without asymmetry before and after orthognathic surgery

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between changes in the condylar long axis and the chewing path before and after mandibular ramus osteotomy for patients with prognathism with and without asymmetry. Eleven men and 16 women with mandibular prognathism were divided into groups on the basis of symmetry and osteotomy procedure. Preoperative and postoperative frontal chewing paths were recorded. The chewing path consisted of 4 components: deviated side range, undeviated side range, vertical range, and incisal path angle. The angle of the condylar long axis and the 4 components of the chewing path were compared between groups and the differences were analyzed statistically. No significant differences in each of the 4 chewing path components were found between groups on the basis of symmetry or osteotomy procedure. A positive correlation was found between the changes in incisal path angle when chewing on the undeviated side and condylar long axis angle on the undeviated side (P < .05). A positive correlation was also found between the changes in undeviated side range when chewing on the deviated side and condylar long axis angle on the deviated side (P < .05). This study suggests that surgically induced increase in the condylar long axis is correlated with increase in side range and incisor path angle, although surgical orthodontic treatment does not significantly change the chewing pattern.